Celebrity Scoop

GLADYS KNIGHT TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT SUPER BOWL LIII – (01/18/2019)

Music legend Gladys Knight has signed on to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at next month’s Super Bowl in Atlanta.

“Atlanta, I’m coming home! #NFL #SBLIII,” Knight tweeted Thursday morning, along with a promotional poster for the February 3rd event. The NFL also announced Knight would help kick off the game.

Maroon 5 was confirmed last weekend as the headliner for the professional football game’s halftime show. Travis Scott and Big Boi are expected to be guest performers.

Following the announcement, Knight has shared a statement in response to Variety’s “question about her stance on the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick,” the former NFL quarterback and political activist who’s been blacklisted from the league due to his peaceful protests against police brutality.

“I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,” Knight said in her statement to Variety. “It is unfortunate that our National Anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the National Anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone.”

She also tied in her longtime activism and called for unity: “I am here today and on Sunday, February 3rd to give the Anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good – I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s Anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII.”

Several other music events are scheduled leading up to the Big Game. On Saturday, February 2nd, Rolling Stone hosts Rolling Stone Live: Atlanta at Goat Farm Arts Center, which features performances by Ludacris and Young Thug, as well as Gunna and Lil Keed. The event will also showcase DJ sets from the Roots’ Questlove. Meanwhile, Aerosmith, Bruno Mars and Cardi B are set to perform during the three-day Super Bowl Music Fest.

CAMILA CABELLO, CARDI B, SHAWN MENDES, POST MALONE AMONG FIRST GRAMMY PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED: The first round of performers for next month’s Grammy Awards has been announced. Nominees Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Dan + Shay, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Janelle Monáe and country star Kacey Musgraves will all take the stage February 10th, as Alicia Keys hosts the ceremony live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Camila is up for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album for her debut album Camila. Cardi has five nominations, including Record of the Year for “I Like It.” Dan + Shay are nominated for their hit “Tequila,” while Post Malone has four nominations, including Album of the Year for beerbongs & bentleys. Shawn is nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for his self-titled third disc. Janelle is up for Best Music Video and Album Of The Year for Dirty Computer, while Kacey Musgraves’ four nods include Album of the Year for Golden Hour. The 61st Annual Grammy Awards air live on CBS February 10th.

Netflix is being slammed over its use of footage from a real-life tragedy in the fictional hit Bird Box. The giant streamer says it has no plans to remove the footage, which appears early on in a movie.

The fatal accident occurred in Canada in 2013, and killed more than 40 people when a train carrying crude oil derailed in a town outside of Quebec. In addition to several dozen fatalities, dozens of homes and businesses were destroyed.

The mayor of Lac-Megantic, Julie Morin, told local reporters “we are looking for assurances from Netflix that. . . they are going to remove them. You can be sure we are going to follow up on this, and our citizens are on our side.”

Netflix is not the first outlet to use footage from the tragedy in a fictional depiction. The sci-fi drama Travelers used stock footage of the incident in a Season 3 episode.

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